A new ZDF documentary, "Putins Schattenmänner," features accounts from former Russian intelligence operatives detailing their involvement in cyber warfare and espionage under Vladimir Putin. Wladislaw Chorochorin, a former hacker recruited by the FSB, describes participating in the 2008 cyberattack on Georgia, where the objective was to "destroy everything that can be destroyed," including infrastructure. He notes that Russia has since created a "paradise for hackers" where they can earn significant wealth and "live like tsars." Chorochorin expresses regret for his past actions, acknowledging the monstrous nature of the regime he supported. Alexander Fedotov, another former FSB agent, initially joined for patriotic reasons but became disillusioned by illegal methods and Putin's self-serving agenda, believing Putin makes the final decisions on eliminating opposition figures. The documentary also highlights the FSB's domestic surveillance and the international targeting of critics, referencing the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and an assassination attempt on US intelligence expert Paul Joyal.